Smart Living Weekly - October 8, 2014 by Northwest Quarterly Mag

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Save Smarter • Live Better • Rockford Region/Beloit 95¢ • Oct. 8, 2014

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Right in Our Region

Fall Fun Along Trail of ‘Terror’ By Karla Nagy, associate editor

ctober means Halloween, the secondmost popular holiday next to Christmas. It also means harvest celebrations, pumpkins and cornhusks, seasonal wines, gorgeous fall colors. Luckily, the Trail of Terror leads to all things autumn and offers something for everyone, whether you want to pick pumpkins or be scared out of your mind.

“The Trail of Terror is a self-guided tour of the area’s best fall festivals, haunted houses and hayrides, cemetery tours, pumpkin patches, corn mazes and other seasonal sensations,” says Diane Bausman, executive director of Blackhawk Waterways CVB in Polo, Ill. “It leads to both autumn and Halloween attractions and events throughout northwest Illinois.” Continued on p. 20

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Bedroom Styles • Getting Kids to Save Money • Recipe: Garlic Asiago Cheddar Crackers Boost Energy Naturally • Tree-Planting Tips • October Weekends at Lockwood Park

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region ..................... Cover & p. 20 The Trail of Terror Your Home ....................................................... 11 Bedroom Styles Mix Old & New Inspiration & Worship .................................... 12 ‘Rest for Your Souls’ Your Kitchen .................................................... 15 Discover Uses for Versatile Olive Oil Your Outings ................................................... 17 Locktoberfest at Lockwood Park Your Health ...................................................... 25 Natural Ways to Boost Your Energy Your Fun .......................................................... 27 Dining Locally ................................................. 29 Tips ................................................................... 31 Fall Tree Planting Your Money ..................................................... 33 Reward Kids for Saving Money

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Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor Janine Pumilia

Managing Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Associate Editor/Special Projects Editor Karla Nagy Senior Staff Writer/Promotions Coordinator Paul Anthony Arco Graphics Director Blake Nunes Graphic Designer Samantha Ryan Contributing Writers Jim Killam, Rhonda Mix, Peggy Werner General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes General Manager/Northwest Business Magazine Dave Marino Account Executive Brian Hughes Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Website www.NWQSmartLiving.com Published by Hughes Media Corp. 728 N. Prospect St., Rockford, IL, 61107 (815) 316-2300, Fax: (815) 316-2301 lhughes@northwestquarterly.com Smart Living Weekly. Copyright 2014 by Hughes Media Corp., 728 N. Prospect St., Rockford, IL, 61107. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

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Banking Locally I

n all of our publications – Smart Living Weekly, Northwest Quarterly Magazine and We Buy Local – we work hard to promote the beneﬂts of buying goods and services from locally owned businesses. Why? Because it’s one very practical way we can all help to improve our local economy. Keeping more dollars in our region is much better than shipping them off to other states. This holds true in nearly every sector, including where we do our banking. I’ve personally banked with a local credit union for decades. Here are ﬂve reasons to choose a locally owned bank or credit union, provided by Sustainable Connections, a small business collaborative.

1. Get the same services at lower cost. National data shows small ﬂnancial institutions offer the same variety of services at a lower cost and, on average, offer better interest rates and better terms on loans. 2. Your money supports the local economy. Small and midsized ﬂnancial institutions account for more than half of all business lending. By using a local bank or credit union, you’re supporting the local businesses that create a majority of new jobs. 3. Keep decision-making local. Local banks and credit unions make loan approvals based on face-to-face relationships and an understanding of local needs. This often leads to loans that big banks would reject. 4. Local institutions share a commitment to our community. The more a community prospers, the more local banks and credit unions prosper. Local institutions are intimately tied to the health of your community. 5. Support productive investment. The main activity of most small banks and credit unions is to turn deposits into loans and other productive investments within the community. Big bank resources are mostly used to generate profits for the institution. Enjoy your week! ❚ Janine Pumilia Executive Editor Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Weekly

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Y H  G

Bedrooms Inspired by Old and New By Rhonda Mix

hinking about redoing your bedroom? Beth Eltman, a designer at Benson Stone Co., 1100 11th St., Rockford, says many customers are seeking padded or upholstered headboards for their bedrooms these days. They’re attractive and more comfortable to lean against than hard surfaces. They blend well with most any other style in the room and lend a sense of cozy plushness. A mix of

old and new seems to strike the right tone with many folks. “Fashion-wise, people are liking the restoration look a lot,” she says, referring to a look made popular by the trendsetting Restoration Hardware company. But customers want their rooms to function well, too. “We’re seeing bedroom sets with a lot of storage, and bedroom furniture with phone and computer-friendly ports in items such as bedside tables.” Benson Stone specializes in more traditional-look furniture, but with some pieces, such as bedroom sets, a blend of traditional and contemporary styles is growing in demand. Gray is a popular color in bedrooms, as are dark neutrals like navy blue and deep plum. With any room design, it’s important to first consider your major focal points. Then, draw a layout of the room and consider your personal tastes. Sometimes an inspiration piece

such as artwork, a special object, or even a magazine photo can inspire the ambiance you’re after. Furniture itself is becoming more eclectic, with bold prints and colors. Gone are the days in which every piece of furniture must match. Today, each piece may be unique, yet coordinated. Dark finishes, such as medium cherry and black-rubbed wood are popular, as is reclaimed wood. When it comes to buying furniture, it’s always best to see and touch items for yourself, at locally owned stores. Local retailers stand by what they sell and go out of their way to earn your repeat business. And, doing business with them is better for our region’s economic health. ❚

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‘Rest for Your Souls’

hen it’s good, it brings out the very best in people. But when religion goes amok, whether by bad leadership, doctrine or practice, its capacity to do harm is infinite. Jesus Christ knew this. He chose to model servant leadership, something that was in stark contrast to the pious behavior of pharisees and other religious leaders of his day. He taught his disciples to lift people up rather than oppress them; to esteem others more highly than themselves and to exemplify Godly behavior without hypocrisy. Pharisees are referenced 86 times, in the gospels, and are nearly always in conflict with Jesus. He not only rebuked them for having wrong priorities and being hardhearted, but sometimes even accused them of doing Satan’s work rather than God’s. In Matthew 23:23-25, Jesus said: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices -- mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law -- justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” Sadly, many people use bad religious leaders as an excuse to avoid God altogether, even though God is in no way responsible for the abuses made in His name. To do so is to focus on the weakness of man, rather than the perfection of God, and to miss out on the joy of His presence. During his ministry, Jesus invited us into a way of life governed by love and grace, not burdensome oppression. In Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV) he said: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” ❚ --Janine Pumilia Get SLW Inspiration & Worship articles every week. Visit NWQSmartLiving. com and start your e-Edition today. 12

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Discover the Uses of Versatile Olive Oil By Peggy Werner

ustomers may come into The Olive Oil Experience & Spice Galleria, 6430 E. Riverside Blvd. in Loves Park, looking for good dipping oil. But they leave having had an eye-opening look at the wide array of olive oils and their uses. “As people come in a try the different oils, they’re more and more aware of the many ways to use olive oil,” says Charles Ducharme, who owns Olive Oil Experience with wife Brandi. “People also get excited when they get the information that allows them to think outside of the box.” For example, 700 types of olives are used in the production of olive oil. In the kitchen, the oil is used for dipping, cooking and drizzling; outside the kitchen, it's a main ingredient in hand creams, lotions, soaps, shampoos, conditioners and face wipes. Some folks mix olive oil with sugar and lemon or citrus zest to create a freshsmelling and effective exfoliator. However, the high-quality, flavorful and fresh products at Olive Oil Experience are meant to be savored on the palate. “A lot of people don’t cook with olive oil because it has a low smoke point,” Ducharme says. “That’s only true of bad olive oils, which burn easily.” Ducharme encourages people to come smaple the 75-plus olive oil and vinegar flavors at his store. Each oil is stored in an Italian-made stainless steel container, called a fusti, which protects it from heat, oxygen, and light – the main enemies of olive oil that cause it to age more quickly. Gourmet oils come in flavors such as black and white truffle, sesame, walnut, almond and more. The couple enjoys the adventure of helping people find olive oil and balsamic vinegar flavors that enhance or complement foods. A few suggestions: Mushroom and Sage Olive Oil to fry eggs; Dark Chocolate Balsamic over ice cream or fresh berries; Maple Balsamic on oatmeal. “There are absolutely no rules and there's no end to what you can do,” Ducharme says. ❚

Get SLW Kitchen articles every week. Visit NWQSmartLiving.com and start your e-Edition today.

Garlic-Asiago-Cheddar Cheese Crackers Ingredients

2½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out the dough ¼ tsp baking powder 1½ tsp Spice Galleria sea salt ½ tsp Spice Galleria freshly ground fine black pepper (optional) 1½ cups aged, shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1½ cups shredded Asiago cheese 1 cup The Olive Oil Experience Garlic Infused Olive Oil

Directions

Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few times to distribute. Add the cheeses and pulse again to finely chop the cheese into the dry ingredients. Add the oil and continue to pulse until the oil is incorporated thoroughly. Gather and press the dough in to two flat discs. Wrap each disc and chill for an hour. Preheat the oven to 425 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out one disk at a time to ¼-inch thick. Cut in to squares, rounds or whatever shape you prefer. The way you choose to cut the crackers will not affect their taste. Bake for 9-11 minutes until the edges become golden. Try experimenting with other infused olive oils with future batches. For more recipes for cooking with olive oil, visit oliveoilexperience.com and click on the blog link.

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Y O

Locktoberfest Offers Weekend Fall Fun ocktoberfest in Lockwood Park, 5201 Safford Road, Rockford, is a month-long celebration of autumn that features a different fall theme each weekend. In addition, many fun family activities and attractions will be offered for all ages, with special Columbus Day entertainment. From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. each weekend, visitors will find carnival rides by Skinners’ Amusements, a corn maze, $5 Pick Your Pumpkin, scavenger hunts, Storytime Hayrides, face painting, pony ring rides, pumpkin-themed games and activities and seasonal food favorites from vendors, as well as trail rides from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Weekend themes offer some additional activities. Oct. 11-13 are Pumpkin Patch Days, with the festival continuing on Monday. A magician, caricature artist, Native American Indian display, balloon artist and juggler have been included, in honor of Columbus Day.

Oct. 18-19 are Scarecrow Days, and visitors will have the opportunity to build a scarecrow. Oct. 25-26 are Costume Party Days. Visitors are encouraged to come dressed in their best Halloween attire. A special Q98.5 Family Scavenger Hunt is scheduled for Saturday. Admission is free. Visitors pay for their food and for some activities. Discounted packages are available at livingsocial.com, where $12 buys 40 Activity Passes to use on games and food (a $20 value). All programs and activities are dependent on the weather and subject to change. For more information, visit rockfordparkdistrict.org. ❚ (Karla Nagy photo)

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Continued from Cover

Now in its 17th year, the Trail of Terror is a cooperative effort among six convention & visitors bureaus and won the 2013 Illinois Governor’s Award for Excellence. From the first of September through the end of October, these CVBs work together to promote seasonal activities throughout the region. Haunted happenings are abundant: Tales from Beyond the Grave in Dixon, Ill.; scary hayrides through Fear Forest in Galena or Savanna’s Haunted Forest. Amenti, the Egyptian Theatre Haunted House in DeKalb, is for those who truly want to be terrified. With 20 scenes, on six levels, it includes several emergency – or “chicken” – exits, and they are used by visitors to escape the terror. “The sign of a good haunted house is its chicken exits,” says Alex Nerad, executive director of the Egyptian Theatre. Now in its ninth year, Amenti is produced completely by the Egyptian and staffed with volunteers. “We’re the only historic theater in the country that’s still open and operating that produces a professional haunted house.” The venue hosts more than 100 shows and events annually. This 1929 art deco building was designed during America’s craze with

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Egyptology, following the discovery of King Tut’s tomb. Inside, the main lobby has 40-foot ceilings with eight pillars rising to the ceiling. The original double staircase at the end leads to the mezzanine and balcony. “We bring in platforms to cover the seats in the theater, and utilize the stage, mezzanine and balcony,” Nerad says. “We do a very good job of creating the maze. Even some people who think they’re familiar with the theater get lost.” Amenti is open Friday-Sunday at 7 p.m. from Oct. 17-Nov. 1. More than 150 volunteers help to create the terrifying illusions, which attract upwards of 600 visitors on a busy night. Up to 50 volunteers help out each night, including 30 or more actors who perform in the various themed areas. “Being the Egyptian Theatre, we have a couple of Egyptian scenes, along with things like forests, hospitals, carnivals. We attack all of the senses – not just sight and touch, but scent and sound. It’s an immersive experience.” And not all of the occurrences are manmade. “The theater is rumored to be haunted, and a couple of people have commented on seeing or experiencing things that definitely were not part of the haunted house,” Nerad says. Amenti is an intense experience, and visitors must be age 13 and older. “People really get scared,” Nerad says. “We have people who loose shoes or bits of clothing in their panic to get out.” About six miles west of DeKalb is family-owned Jonamac (Amenti photos)

The Trail of Terror

Orchard, 19412 Shabbona Road in Malta. Its 10-acre corn maze, with more than three miles of paths, is divided in half; take the first, easier half and end up back where you started, where you can opt to tackle the second half or stop to take in the other attractions. At dusk, however, that decision becomes more ominous. “The second half is haunted,” says Jonamac second-generation owner Kevin McArtor. “We don’t allow flashlights or phones, so it’s completely dark. It’s a maze, with dead ends and loops, and you don’t know what’s coming. We have different scenarios – a school bus, graveyards – and more than 20 characters, with chainsaws, cleavers and other frightening things. New this year is the Zombie Containment Area, an enclosure of chain link fence and people are shut in with the zombies. It’s intense, but lots of fun.” The haunted maze is open each Friday and Saturday in October, from dusk until about 10:30 p.m. Like Amenti, it’s an intensely frightening experience and recommended for ages 13 and up. That aside, Jonamac Orchard, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, is a family-friendly seasonal destination, with a petting zoo, barnyard play area, jumping pillow, hay bale pile, fort and children’s maze, pony rides and more. “We have apple cannons aimed at targets, and people purchase the apples to shoot. We also have Pumpkin Howitzer, that fires them way up into the air.”

(Jonamac Orchard photos)

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There’s no admission fee to the orchard, and rides to the pumpkin patch are free, but other activities involve fees. “Wristbands are purchased for the jumping pillow, barnyard, petting zoo and corn maze,” McArtor explains. “We have combo admissions, day passes and family passes.” Jonamac’s country store and bakery sells homemade apple butter, apple cider and apple cider doughnuts, along with jams, jellies, mustards and gifts and crafts. Those who follow the Trail of Terror can also find Stephenson County Fall Driving Tours, fall scenery at Hennepin Canal State Park in Rock Falls, the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival from Oct. 22-26, the Mt. Carroll Pumpkin Fest on Oct. 25 and more. For more information, visit illinoistrailofterror.com. ❚

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Boost Your Body’s Energy Level, Naturally B y D r. E m m e t t B l a h n i k

f you struggle daily with low energy and tiredness, you may be one of millions of Americans struggling with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), a condition that causes extreme fatigue that last months or even years. Whether you suffer from CFS, or simply feel exhausted much of the time, here are some powerful ways to regain your energy without harsh drugs. Adopt a Natural Whole Foods Diet Processed and fast foods burden your body’s energy and immune system and lack the nutrients you need to be healthy. Instead, eat whole foods – foods in their natural state, with all of the vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants and nutrients intact. Download the free “A Simple Healing Food Plan” at NextLevelHealthClinic. com. Get Some Sunlight Not getting enough sunlight daily decreases

tissues of oxygen. You don’t have to be a fitness fanatic; just take the first step. Go for a walk in the sunshine.

natural Vitamin D hormone production and causes fatigue. Expose a third of your skin to natural sunlight for 15 to 20 minutes daily, and supplement with Vitamin D, 6000-12000 IU daily. Get Moving Exercise is the easiest and most effective way to boost your healthy hormones, eliminate toxins and invigorate your body with energy and oxygen. A sedentary lifestyle deprives your body, brain, organs and

Reduce Your Stress Response Stress throws your body biochemistry and hormones into an emergency mode, exhausting essential B-vitamins, affecting digestion, throwing blood glucose levels out of balance, raising unhealthy hormone levels and burning out your adrenal glands. We can’t eliminate stress, but how we react to it makes a big difference. Do something joyful, purpose-driven and fun, every day. ❚ Emmett Blahnik, owner of Next Level Health, 2835 McFarland Road, Rockford, is a doctor of chiropractic, a certified nutrition counselor, a speaker, author and radio show host.

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Wings of Wonder -- Lorikeets Through Nov. 9, Tues.-Fri. 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. These vibrant colored birds, a kind of parrot, are known for their playfulness and mimicry. Nicholas Conservatory, 1354 N. 2nd St., Rockford, (815) 987-8858, nicholasconservatory.com. Behind the Brew: Coffee Oct. 9 & 23, 6:30-8 p.m. Learn all about the history and brewing process of coffee and sample different varieties. By See the touring Broadway hit Camelot, Oct. 16 at the Rockford Roasting Co., Burpee Museum Coronado Performing Arts Center in Rockford. of Natural History, 737 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 965-3433, burpee.org. Fall Diddley Oct. 11-12, Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. to 4 p.m. Twisted Crypt Haunted House Annual craft show featuring more than 300 craftThrough Nov. 1, Thurs. 7-10:30 p.m., Fri. to 11:30 ers and artists displayed in booths, buildings and p.m., Sat. 6-10 p.m. Huge indoor attraction with tents. Boone Fairgrounds, 8791 Ill. Rt. 76, Belvidark mazes, live showrooms, special effects. dere, (815) 385-5745, www.mhrl.org. $12. 5420 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 988-1291, twistedcrypt.com. Head of the Rock Regatta Oct. 12, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Crews from across the James Lee Stanley country compete in sculling races on the Rock Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m. This singer/songwriter has River. Spectators free. Martin Park, 5600 Park toured with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Art Gar- Ridge Dr., Loves Park, Ill., headoftherock.org. funkel and Steven Wright. Emerson House, 420 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 964-9713, mendels- Camelot sohnpac.org. Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m. Lerner & Loew’s classic musical of the marriage of King Arthur to Guinevere. So You Think You Can Dance: Live On Tour CPAC, Rockford, coronadopac.org. Oct. 10, 8 p.m. Top 10 finalists from Season 11 of the award-winning TV show perform. Coronado Troy Taylor: Murdered in their Beds Performing Arts Center (CPAC), 314 N. Main St., Oct. 17, 6-7:30 p.m. The author discusses his Rockford, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org. book about a killer who left bodies in Illinois, Colorado, Kansas and Iowa, and an eerie haunting. Fall for the Forest Preserves Book signing follows. $20/$25 at the event. VetOct. 11, noon-3 p.m. Activities include door priz- erans Memorial Hall, Rockford, (815) 871-4239, es, horse-drawn wagon rides, children’s crafts, hauntedrockford.com. guided hikes, fall treats and scavenger hunt. Free. Atwood Homestead Forest Preserve, 8990 Old Fresh and Local: Harvest for Your Health River Road, Rockford, (815) 877-6100, wcfpd.org. Oct. 18, 2-4 p.m. Meet with a local food expert for tips and tricks on ways to create holistic treatHaunted Rockford Bus Tour ments. Rockford Public Library East Branch, 6685 Oct. 11, 7-10 p.m. Visit haunted locations while E. State St., rockfordpubliclibrary.org. a guide tells stories and two psychics “check for spirits.” $30 in advance. Veterans Memorial Hall Cowboy Crime in the Wild, Wild West parking lot, 211 N. Main, Rockford, (815) 871- Oct. 18, 6 p.m. Pec Playhouse Theatre’s annual 4239, hauntedrockford.com. murder mystery fundraiser. Lino’s, 5611 E. State St., Rockford. Info: (815) 239-1210. The Canadian Brass Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m. This quintet takes brass play- Ron White ing to unprecedented heights, reaching music Oct. 18, 8 p.m. Comedian best known as the lovers throughout the world with crowd-pleasing cigar smoking, scotch drinking funnyman from arrangements, virtuoso playing, spontaneity and the “Blue Collar Comedy” phenomenon. CPAC, fun. CPAC, Rockford, coronadopac.org. Rockford, coronadopac.org. ❚ Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Weekly

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Smart Dining Weekly Our Top Picks for Terrific Local Restaurants Key: D Dinner, L Lunch, Br Brunch, Bk Breakfast

Price: $ under $12.50, $$ $12.50-$25, $$$ $25+

9 East Coffee  Specialty coffees, pastries, breakfast & lunch items. 9 E. Stephenson St., Freeport. (815) 233-7300. $ Amici Italian Grill  Upscale-Casual/Italian. Fresh, authentic Italian cuisine. 5506 Clayton Circle, Roscoe, (815) 6237171. LD Sun-Th 11am-9pm, F-Sat 11am-10-pm. $-$$. Bravo Pizza  Italian/American favorites, full bar. 376 Prairie Hill Rd., South Beloit, Ill. (815) 624-7900. LD Sun-Th 11am10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $. Butterfly Club  Upscale-Casual/Fine Dining. 5246 E. Co. Road X, Beloit, Wis. (608) 362-8577. LD T-Th 5-9:30pm, F 4:30-10pm, Sat 5-10pm, Sun noon-8pm. Live bands. $$. Cafe Fromage  Artisan sandwiches, soups, cheese plates, baked goods. 431 E. Grand, Beloit, Wis. (608) 207-3094. $. Cannova’s Pizzeria & Fine Italian Cuisine  Casual. Pizza, pasta, steak, seafood. 1101 W. Empire St., Freeport, (815) 233-0032. D T-Th, Sun 5-9pm; F-Sat 10pm. $-$$. Ciao Bella Ristorante  Upscale-Casual/Italian-American. Extensive wine list; daily specials. 6500 E. Riverside, Loves Park, (815) 654-9900. LD M-F 11am-9pm, Sat 5-9pm. $$. Costa’s Ristorante  Upscale-Casual. 133 Blackhawk Dr., Byron, Ill., (815) 234-4707. Open daily 4pm. $-$$. Dos Reales  Casual/Authentic Mexican. 5855 E. State St., Rockford. LD M-Th, Sun 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 10:30pm. $. Franchesco’s Ristorante  Upscale/Italian-American. Sommelier, live entertainment, weddings, Sinatra Lounge, Benny’s Bar. 7128 Spring Creek Rd, Rockford, (815) 229-0800. LD M-Th 11am-10pm, F to 11pm, Sat-Sun 4pm. $$. Giordano’s  Casual/Italian. Pasta, deep-dish pizza, specialties. 333 Executive Pkwy, Rockford, (815) 398-5700, LD 11 a.m.-midnight $. JMK Nippon Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar  Upscale-Casual. Food cooked tableside. 2551 N. Perryville, Rockford, (815) 877-0505. L T-F 11:30am-2pm, Sat 2:30pm; D M-Th 5-9:30pm, F-Sat 10:30pm, Sun 4:30-9:30pm. $$. Joey C’ Cucina & Cocktails  Upscale-Casual/Italian. 2583 N. Mulford, Rockford, (815) 639-1200. LD M-T 4-10pm, W-Th 11am-9pm, F to 10pm, Sat-Sun 4-10pm $. Leombruni’s Italian Village Pizza & Restaurant  Casual. 110 W. 2nd St., Byron, Ill., (815) 234-2696. D T-Th 5-9pm, F-Sat to 11pm, Sun to 10pm. $.

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Lucha Cantina  Casual/Mexican. Fresh ingredients, no MSG, steaks, mac ‘n cheese, burgers. 1641 N. Alpine, Rockford, (815) 977-4319. LD M-Th 11am-midnight, F-Sat 2am. $. Main Street Bistro  Fine dining, full bar, live music Th&Sat. 109 S. Galena Ave., Freeport, (815) 232-2322. M-Sat 2pmmidnight. $$ Maciano’s Pizza & Pastaria  Casual. Italian favorites, beer & wine. 6746 Broadcast Pkwy., Loves Park, Ill., (815) 963-7869. LD Sun-Th 11am-midnight, F-Sat to 11pm. $$. Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint  Fine Dining. Ironworks Hotel, 500 Pleasant St., Beloit, Wis. (608) 313-0700 Sun.-Th 4:30-9pm, Fri-Sat. to 10pm. $$. Napoli Pizzeria III & Top Dollar Slots  Pizza, pasta, sandwiches, dinners, desserts. Takeout/delivery. 6560 N. Alpine, Loves Park, (815) 877-9888. Sun-Th11am-10:30pm, FSat to 11:30pm. $-$$. Olympic Tavern  Casual/American. 2327 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 962-8758. LD M-Sat 11am-2am. $-$$. Prairie Grass Pub  Burgers, wraps, pork chops, steaks, pasta, daily fish fry. Craft beer, wine, signature cocktails. Deck, banquets. Prairie View Golf Course, 6734 German Church Rd, Byron, Ill. (815) 234--8535. LD daily 10am. $-$$. Prairie Street Brewhouse  Upscale-Casual/American. Riverside dining, handcrafted beers, banquet rooms, marina. 200 Prairie St., Rockford, (815) 277-9427. LD Sun-W 11am10pm, Th to midnight, F-Sat to 2am. $-$$. Tavern on Clark  Casual/American. Tavern-style fare, big burgers, steaks, fries, flatbreads. Full bar; banquets. 755 Clark Ave., Rockford, (815) 708-7088. LD daily 10am. $-$$. This Is It Eatery  Ribs, burgers, pasta, salads. 16 N. Chicago Ave., Freeport, (815) 616-5449. LD T-Th 11am-8pm, F-Sat to 10pm. $. Vito’s Ristorante  Casual/Italian. Authentic fare from family recipes. Sauces, soups, mama’s meatballs, desserts fresh daily. 1620 N. Bell School Rd., Rockford, (815) 312-5080. LD T-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $$. White Pines Inn  Home-style dining in log cabin atmosphere. Area’s largest buffet Sunday. 6712 White Pines Rd, Mt. Morris, Ill., (815) 946-3817. BkLD M-Th 8am-8pm, F-Sat to 9pm, Sun to 7pm, Br Sun 8am-2pm. $$$. ❚

Find more great local restaurants. See our Expanded Dining Guide at NorthwestQuarterly.com/Dining

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Oct. 8

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Oct. 8

T  I

6 Tips for Fall Tree Planting

ith the exception of evergreen trees, fall is a great time to plant most any kind of tree, right up until the ground freezes. Here are planting tips to help improve a tree’s odds of survival. 1. Location Trees spread both above and below ground, so consider branch overhang and root spread. Place where growth won’t interfere with buildings or overhead wires or damage foundations, sidewalks or asphalt. 2. Hole Preparation People often dig the hole too deep and too narrow. Width should be three times the diameter of the root ball or container. Depth should be equal to the height of the root ball. 3. Placement in the Hole Place so that root ball top is even with the top of the hole, cut any twine and remove burlap. For potbound container trees, gently untangle roots and spread before planting. 4. Backfilling Using the original soil, backfill around the root ball, lightly packing with your hands. Don’t compress tightly and don’t use your feet. Use leftover soil to create a berm around rim of hole to hold water. 5. Staking Staking can retard growth, because trees need to adapt to conditions as they grow. Use only for support, at open sites with strong winds or for small root balls, for example. Drive stake through root ball and tie loosely to trunk over protective material; don’t lash tightly. 6. Mulch & Water Add 2 to 3 inches of shredded bark or aged wood chips to hold moisture. Water shortly after planting and then once a week – daily if weather is very dry. Water directly above root ball, and keep soil moist, not soaked. ❚ Source: J. Carlson Growers

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Oct. 8

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Rewarding Children for Saving Money By Jim Killam

raining kids to save money isn’t exactly a new idea. But it’s an uphill ﬁght, given that 27 percent of American adults have no savings at all, according to a 2013 Bankrate.com survey Lori Perkins, director of marketing at Rock Valley Credit Union, 1201 Clifford Ave., Loves Park, says her institution’s youth accounts are successfully teaching kids the realities of saving and spending. For ages 5-12, the credit union offers a “Wags to Riches” club. The mascot, Wags the dog, appears at events geared toward encouraging kids to save. When kids deposit money in savings, they earn Wags Bucks – points toward prizes like gift cards at stores or theaters. The program has proved to be a big incentive for kids – more so than when the credit union used to offer toys as prizes. “If they get a gift card to Target, they can go buy whatever they want,” Perkins

says. “And they know they received that because they were saving the money.” Teens ages 13-17 are eligible for the credit union’s mPower accounts, which include savings, plus an optional checking account and ATM VISA Debit card. That order of progression is important, Perkins says. “When my daughter turned 13 she got the teen checking account,” she says. “So now, when she gets money – whether it’s for Christmas, birthdays, whatever – she still will put a little bit into savings.” The credit union encourages parents to stay involved in that process with their teens, especially as the ATM VISA Debit card is introduced. “The kids are not necessarily getting information at school about ﬁnances and

how to balance a checkbook,” Perkins says. “Kids a lot of times see their parents with these plastic cards. And then they think, hey, we can buy whatever we want because we have this little plastic card.” ❚

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Oct. 8

Smart Living Weekly

Issue 1